Continual Growth

Since splitting the novel for the umpteenth time, the saga overall has taken on a new life, blossoming, unfolding, growing. I am shuffling storylines around... characters are evolving. Those who had small roles before are growing, sharing more of whom they are and how they came to be.

It is funny, but once I let go of my idea of what the series should be, it has become what it actually is. So now, I am just going with the flow, anxious to see what the story will become.

I guess that I will not finish anytime soon. Ha! But then again, maybe I will complete all sooner than expected.

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

Hi All,

Ah, today is Mardi Gras when excess is blessed! I hope that many of you made it to my beloved Big Easy to enjoy the festivities! In any case, I am there in spirit.



One day, I will return to my home. Actually, my mother's family is from there. I dream of it always.

Mardi Gras brings to mind Louis Armstrong's "Do You Know What Means to Miss New Orleans." I love that song. It was the theme song for an old TV series, "Frank's Place," set in New Orleans, back in the '80's. (I think that was the '80's, from what my mother tells me, of course LOL).

Strangely enough, I never included a Mardi Gras celebration in the novel. Maybe Josephine should do something one year. Perhaps present a girl at the House (she runs the family brothel) for Mardi Gras. In fact, I think that I just figured out how to work it in! Well, you heard it here first guys!

Gosh darn it! I cannot get the song out of my mind. I will be singing it all day...

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
And miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong... this feelings gettin stronger
The longer, I stay away
Miss them moss covered vines...the tall sugar pines
Where mockin birds used to sing
And Id like to see that lazy mississippi...hurryin into spring

Oh the Mardi Gras a memory.......a creole tune.... that fills the air
I dream... about magnolias in bloom......and I'm wishin I was there

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When thats where you left your heart
And there's one thing more...i miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans

(instrumental break)

The moonlight on the bayou.......a creole tune.... that fills the air
I dream... about magnolia's in bloom......and I'm wishin'that I was there

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's one thing more...I miss the one I care for
More.....more than I miss.......New Orleans

Love Reigns...

Happy Mardi Gras!

Monday

I had a productive weekend. I finished some of the work on La Fleur. My computer crashed and my heart stopped, for my novel was open at the time. However, I did not lose any of my changes. Yeah!

Now, it is Monday, and I must re-orientate myself to work (that pays the bills).

You know what I dream? I dream of New Orleans... of staying for a week at the Monteleone, finishing my book... undisturbed. I have had this dream for some time now. At one time, the dream included my true love accompanying me (he is a dream too). Now, I don't even want him there. I just want to be alone with my novel, my dreams and my libations.

I would go to the Carousel bar, where Julian despised New Orleans, to edit La Fleur and drink.

I would go to Commander's Palace for lunch. Octavius took Beatrice there, along with Josephine, Toussaint and Sylvia. Octavius and Beatrice were reunited at La Fleur in 2008, in the final novel, La Baton. If you have not guessed, Octavius and Beatrice are Jamie and Lela, reincarnated... Sylvia is Nancy...

Well, I am getting ahead of myself. But it is what I dream. I dream... I dream...

Authonomy

Thursday was my birthday. I actually had a nice day, but I was very tired. I had gone out with my bosses the night before to send off one our own, headed for greener pastures. He started his own business!

I got a special gift on my birthday however. I found this site where new authors can post their works. So I put up a few chapters. The publisher reads your work, if enough people recommend it. Please stop by and give my work a read. Sign up and recommend me! http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=6708.

Last night, I got a few hours to do some more editing. The novel, well at least the first 10 chapters, is pretty clean. Things are looking up! I just need time... If I had uninterrupted time, I could get it done. But life does not present the majority of us with uninterrupted moments.

Happy Birthday Lela Chevalier Roberts!

February 12, 2009

Today, I am celebrating the 157th birthday of my friend, Lela Chevalier Roberts. Lela was born a slave on February 12, 1852 to her father, Augustus Chevalier on his plantation in St. Helena’s Parish, Louisiana. Little did anyone know that Lela is La Rose, Holy to the Lord, the mother of His children. Lela returns to the earth, yet again, to further the Vine, bringing forth its blooms in season, the children of the Lord.

With Satan's many attempts to destroy Lela and her children throughout her lifetime, her greatest challenge proves to be her great-grandson, Julian Charles Chamberie. After witnessing his mother Josephine plummet from the third floor of their home to her death, Julian becomes cold, unable and unwilling to feel and to love ever again. If he cannot love, how can the last generations of the Most High come forth?

When Julian returns to New Orleans during the March on Washington in August, 1963, he plans to place Lela, who is now 111 years old, in a nursing home, sell the mansion and auction off its contents. However, Lela narrates for him their family’s long and complicated history, attempting to explain his mother’s death. Lela’s story forces Julian to contend with the realization that his mother committed suicide, out of anguish for ruining his life.

Julian flees their home, running to City Park. As he weeps for his mother, an old woman sits beside him. She listens to his heart's hurt, soothing and comforting him with her words of wisdom. As she leaves, Julian remembers her perfume, realizing the woman’s identity. Julian runs after her, reuniting with his greatest love, his mother Josephine.

La Rose succeeds in furthering the Holy Line in its march towards it vintage fruit, La Baton.

***

Well, this is my novel, La Fleur; however their is much more to the story. I have attached the few chapter of the book. The novel is approximately 340,000 words.

Each week, I will post a few chapters from the novel. Click on the links at the left to read the first few chapters!

I welcome your feedback. And hey, agents and publishers, please feel free to contact me if you like what you see! You may contact me at claudiahross@gmail.com.

If you wish to read more, please subscribe to this blog or select the link above to 'follow this blog.' When I load a new chapter, you will be the first to know!

Claudia Helena Ross